Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, Hon'ble Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare and Chemicals & Fertilizers, Government of India distributed Nutritional Baskets to 5 TB patients who are adopted by Ni-Kshay Mitra Apollo Tyres Foundation under the Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan. Apollo Tyres Foundation has adopted 75 TB patients and the remaining 70 TB patients would be provided Nutritional baskets by their assigned TB unit ensuring that minimal inconvenience is caused to any TB patient. It is important to highlight the number 75 shows 75 years of India's Azadi Ka Amrit Mahautsav.
Hon'ble Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare and Chemicals & Fertilizers, Government of India Health Minister also flagged off 75 Trucks with TB messages that have been provided by Apollo Tyres Foundation. These trucks would travel across states and will carry the messages right to the masses.
Dr. Mandaviya while addressing the gathering at the event ‘Partnership for Action against Tuberculosis’ at Ashoka Hotel today urged Corporates, Institutions, Trade bodies, associations, Individuals etc., to come forward and actively support India’s battle against tuberculosis.
Dr. Mandaviya reiterated India’s commitment to eliminate Tuberculosis by 2025, five years ahead of the SDG target through a 360-degree holistic approach. Multi-sectoral Engagement has been planned as a key pillar in supporting National TB Elimination Programme by leveraging cooperation from other stakeholders to meet the end TB target of the country.
It is important to highlight that the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched the Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan in September 2022 wherein industries, corporates & business houses, elected representatives, nominated representatives individuals, institutions, non-governmental organizations, political parties, etc., can adopt individual patients or the entire block/urban wards/districts for accelerating response against TB and to complement government efforts in its path towards ending TB in India.
In an innovative way, Apollo Tyres Foundation has intensified TB-Free India Campaign by engaging - Heroes On Wheels (Truck Drivers) to create awareness of Tuberculosis amongst the larger target audience.
Truckers are one of the key populations to be reached out to with TB awareness and prevention activities. It is important to create awareness about TB, promote TB screening, Active Case Finding activities and link TB-diagnosed cases with services as provisioned in the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme.
Ms Roli Singh, AS & MD NHM, MoHFW, GoI appreciated Apollo Tyres Foundation’s efforts in initiating campaigns and TB-related activities for the truckers’ population and other vulnerable groups across 32 locations in 19 States in the country. Ms Singh added that the initiative of 75 Trucks branded with TB messages from five locations (Delhi, Mudra Port- Gujarat, Hyderabad, Jalandhar and Agartala) will boost the efforts to address TB among truckers’ communities and others closely associated with the community
Mr. Gaurav Kumar, Chief Financial Officer, Apollo Tyres Ltd assured all support from Apollo Tyres Foundation.
Dr Mandviya applauded the presence of multiple corporates in the programme ‘Partnership for Action against Tuberculosis (PAcT)’ and also urged other all corporates and business houses to join hands in the mission toward END TB in India
This event was live telecast at 5 hubs of Apollo Tyres where more than 1000 people had gathered.
